Side hustles in your 60s: Focus on 'long-term sustainability' rather than 'quick money.' A mindset to avoid failure.

I am Kumataro Yokoyama, a training instructor and sign language interpreter.

While utilizing AI, I provide information for seniors and introduce books and gadgets.

The number of people in their 60s who want to start a side hustle is increasing.

The reasons vary, such as wanting to supplement retirement living expenses, maintain connections with society, or make use of past experience.

On the other hand, many people worry that they 'cannot earn as much as they thought,' 'cannot keep anything going,' or 'bought expensive materials but saw no results.'

The reason for not seeing results in a side hustle is not necessarily limited to ability or age. Sometimes, one's mindset toward the side hustle is what stops the action.

What is important for a side hustle starting in your 60s is not to earn a large amount at once. It is to build a system that allows you to accumulate small results in a sustainable way and continue for a long time.

Doubt the phrase 'easy to earn'

When looking for a side hustle, you may see advertisements claiming 'anyone can earn easily' or 'monthly income of hundreds of thousands of yen in a short period.'

However, it is not easy to earn a large income in a short period without experience, credibility, or a customer base.

Jobs that can be started without special knowledge tend to have many people entering them, which often leads to lower unit prices. Conversely, jobs that offer high compensation require expertise, a track record, and continuous learning.

You need to be cautious about stories where 'easy' and 'high income' are both true.

If you are recommended expensive materials, courses, or membership contracts, it is important not to decide on the spot. Check the total cost, cancellation terms, and the mechanism for generating revenue, and consult with family or a third party.

Do not aim for 100,000 yen per month from the start

People who cannot earn money from side hustles tend to set high goals from the beginning.

Thinking 'I want to earn 100,000 yen every month' is not bad in itself. However, if you only increase your income goal while you have no track record, you are more likely to be disappointed by the difference from reality.

The first goal should not be monthly income, but creating your 'first sale.'

First, experience the process of accepting one job, delivering the promised content, and receiving payment. Even if the amount is small, you will learn how to find work, how to interact with customers, and the necessary work time.

Once you have your first sale, aim to accept the same job again. Through this repetition, you will see what kind of work suits you and what the appropriate price is.

Doing nothing but preparing

It is important to acquire knowledge before starting a side job.

However, just continuing to study through books and videos will not generate income.

While thinking, 'I'll start after I learn a bit more,' 'after I get a certification,' or 'after I prepare the perfect product,' time can just slip away.

You cannot acquire all the knowledge necessary for a job in advance. There are many things you only understand once you actually start working.

Once you have made minimal preparations, move on to actions that get external feedback, such as applying for small projects, selling prototypes, or introducing your services to acquaintances.

Repeating the cycle of learning and practice is a more efficient way to acquire the skills you need.

Assuming your own experience has no value

Some people think, 'Because I don't have any special certifications, I have nothing I can use for a side job.'

However, the experience you have accumulated by your 60s is not limited to company titles or certifications.

Sales, customer service, accounting, document creation, inventory management, phone support, supervising subordinates, housework, childcare, nursing care, community activities, and hobbies can all potentially lead to work if you organize them.

It is often hard to notice the value in things you can do naturally.

Try looking back not just at 'what you are good at,' but also at 'what people have asked you to do' and 'what kind of problems you have solved.'

In a side job, being able to reliably solve someone's problem is valued more than having rare skills.

Do not choose work based only on what you like

If you can make your hobby your side job, you might be able to continue it happily.

However, just having a feeling of liking something does not generate income. For it to work as a job, there must be people willing to pay for that product or service.

When choosing a side job, it is important to look for a field where the following three points overlap:

• Things you can do

• Things you can continue without strain

• Things that someone is willing to pay for and needs

Even if it is something you love, if there is no demand, it will be difficult to turn it into income. Conversely, if you take on work that causes you great distress, even if there is demand, you will not be able to continue it for long.

You need a perspective that considers not only your own wishes but also what the client is looking for.

Judging work solely by hourly wage

When starting a side job, the compensation amount is an important factor in your decision.

However, if you choose a job based only on the displayed compensation, you may misjudge the actual burden involved.

Even if the task itself only takes one hour, you may need time for preparation, travel, communication, and revisions. There may also be costs for tools, transportation, and sales commissions.

To determine your actual earnings, you need to subtract expenses from the compensation and divide by the total time spent on the work.

You might accept a low rate at first to build a track record. However, decide in advance on a standard for how long you will continue to work at a low rate.

Being too fixated on a single job

If you don't see results from the side job you started, you might think, 'I'm not trying hard enough,' and continue with the same approach.

While persistence is important, continuing with work that has little demand or using methods that don't suit you may not lead to results.

Review your number of applications, successful contracts, sales, expenses, and work hours at regular intervals.

Recording the numbers will help you identify areas for improvement. If you apply but cannot get work, review your profile and proposal. If you get work but don't make a profit, you need to change your pricing or work methods.

If you don't see results even after making improvements, trying a different job is a perfectly valid decision.

Quitting is not necessarily a failure. The advantage of a side job is that you can try things on a small scale and change direction if it doesn't work out.

Do not bring in the evaluation criteria from your time as a company employee

At a company, your position, years of service, and internal achievements are what get evaluated.

On the other hand, in a side job, work is not always determined by your past titles. What the client wants to know is, 'What can this person do for me if I hire them?' and 'Will they meet the deadline?'

When introducing your many years of experience, don't just list your job titles; translate them into the value you can provide to the other party.

For example, instead of just saying 'I have 30 years of experience in sales,' show it concretely by saying, 'I can create proposals for customers' or 'I can conduct customer service training for new employees.'

While you have little experience, polite communication, strict adherence to deadlines, and clear explanations will lead to trust.

Do not sacrifice your family or health.

It is dangerous to cut back on sleep or rest in an attempt to increase your income.

Especially in your 60s, if your health fails, it will affect your main job and daily life. There is a possibility that medical expenses and the burden on your daily life will exceed the income earned from your side job.

It is important to decide in advance how much time you can spend on your side job and not accept work with unreasonable deadlines.

Also, for businesses that require holding inventory or large initial investments, start within a range where losses will not affect your living funds. Instead of investing your retirement savings all at once, you need to verify demand with small amounts.

A side job is a means to enrich your life. It would be counterproductive if your side job destroyed the foundation of your life.

People who cannot earn money only look at the 'results'.

In a side job, the time you put in and your income do not always correlate immediately.

If you decide that 'you have no talent' when you don't see results, you will lose the opportunity for improvement.

It is not just sales that you should look at.

Record the number of applications, the percentage of responses received, proposals that led to requests, time spent on tasks, and points evaluated by customers.

When you break down results into action-based numbers, you can see what to change next.

People who can earn money from side jobs are not those who know the right answer from the start. They are people who can look back on the results of their attempts and adjust their methods little by little.

For side jobs in your 60s, 'start small and continue for a long time'.

In a side job starting in your 60s, there is no need to aim for the same way of working as young people.

Choose a field where your experience is useful, matching your physical strength and daily schedule. It is also important to try small jobs without investing large amounts of capital.

Even if your initial income is small, if you accumulate trust and achievements, it may lead to continuous requests or referrals.

If you are in a hurry to earn a lot, you will end up approaching dangerous solicitations or unreasonable ways of working.

What you want to aim for with a side job in your 60s is not a temporary high income.

It is about creating a system where you can be useful to others while protecting your health and earning an income without strain.

Thinking not only about 'what will earn the most,' but also 'what can I continue doing for a long time' is the first step to avoiding failure.

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